Makeovers have been all the rage. I admit to being fascinated by What Not to Wear and have been known to watch a couple home remodeling programs upon occasion. If our lives and our homes require makeovers upon occasion, it follows that our businesses do as well. We began this topic last week, with a focus on rekindling our passion. The second step in the process outlined is one of learning the ropes and plotting a course to success.

               I’m not talking about the tweaks we’ve all been using to adjust to the vagaries of COVID, but rather to the intrinsic need for revamping a viable business into an attractive new version of itself. You don’t have to be a contestant on CNN’s The Big Fix to enjoy the fresh surge of growth from a new you…there are practical steps you can take on your own.

               I’m a down home kind of gal, so I like to take these big, unwieldy concepts and put them into word pictures everyone understands. And since vacations are ever upon my mind, a road trip makes a great analogy. When we get ready to go somewhere, we begin with research. What’s there? How long does it take to get there? What will it cost? What will we do when we get there? As basic as that is, eschew the fancy plans that cost and arm and a leg. Apply common sense to your business.

               The steps put forth by Small Business Revolution are not revelatory at all. They suggest a review of assets, a warm connection with your clientele, logo redo’s and a heavy sprinkling of the new you on social media. I think we all know that. It’s not bad information, it’s just a lot more than what I’m looking for—I want a simple, hands-on approach.

               Traveling to a place of better income often requires navigation via a roadmap. Your goal is to distil your brand, your products into a single statement of what you offer and who needs you. Sean Ellis , author of Hacking Growth, describes it as your North Star metric. It’s the compass point for which you must follow to reach your goals. Once you have a clear and concise vision of you and your peeps, determine your scale for measuring success. If you were traveling by car to Indianapolis, one of the first things you’d be asking is, “How many miles is it from Blue Springs?” Going the distance to success is no different. You need to be able to gauge where you are on your roadmap and measure progress.

               Then collect all the minds and start brainstorming: How do we reach our goal? Putting ideas into action like plotting your journey and chalking off mile markers along the way. Remember…you don’t have to do it all yourself. Bring in a VA to plan an event, post on social media, set up a display. You’re wearing a lot of hats, and the last thing you need is trying to balance one more. Just don’t sit in the middle of the road, needing assistance, and unable to get yourself to the place you want to be.

               Navigating these murky waters is not as hard as you think. Set a course. Plot your path. Make it happen.